Given to outstanding faculty members across the University, the award honors those who have made significant contributions to NYU’s intellectual life through teaching. Students, faculty, and alumni submit nominations, which are then examined by NYU’s All-University Selection Committee to make the final determination. Winners will receive a medal and a $5,000 award at a ceremony on April 29. Selection criteria include outstanding teaching effectiveness both inside and outside the classroom; the ability to inspire students’ intellectual development; an innovative pedagogical approach; and significant contributions to curricula in the professor’s field.

Barkow, a criminal law specialist, has a particular interest in applying the lessons and theory of administrative and constitutional law to the administration of criminal justice. She has provided expert testimony to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection regarding the institutional design of the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency; to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the future of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and to the United States Sentencing Commission regarding potential reforms to the federal sentencing system. Barkow serves on the Conviction Integrity Policy Advisory Panel of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. She won the Law School’s Podell Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007.